Ecological Archives E094-084-D1
D. A. Kelt, P. L. Meserve, J. R. Gutiérrez, W. Bryan Milstead, M. A. Previtali. 2013. Long-term monitoring of mammals in the face of biotic and abiotic influences at a semiarid site in north-central Chile. Ecology 94:977. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/12-1811.1
Fray Jorge Plant Metadata
Introduction
We have sampled the plant community at our long-term site in Bosque Fray Jorge National Park since 1989. Surveys emphasize cover of both annual (5–6 times annually) and perennial (4 times annually) plants on permanently marked transects. Seed bank density is estimated from soil samples collected under permanently marked shrubs and in the open (3 times annually). Because germination of annual plants is dependent upon rainfall, the timing of annual plant surveys varies somewhat from year to year as it is timed to coincide with the growing season for herbaceous plants. This metadata file describes the collection of data and the structure of the associated data sets. The plant data set consists of four files representing perennial shrub cover, ephemeral (annual + geophytes) cover, and soil seed densities.
Metadata
Class I. Data set descriptors
A. Data set identity: Long-term monitoring in the face of biotic and abiotic influences at a semiarid site in north-central Chile.
B. Data set identification code:
Fray_Jorge_Annuals_1989-2005.txt
Fray_Jorge_Perennials_1989-2005.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_1989-2002.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005 I.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005 II.txt
C. Data set description
Principal Investigators:
Julio R. Gutiérrez, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena Chile
Peter L. Meserve, Department of iological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL 60115, USA
Douglas A. Kelt, Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis CA 95616, USA
Abstract: The data set covers a 16-year period (1989–2005) of ephemeral and perennial vegetation surveys, and of standardized measurements of the size and composition of the seed bank at a semiarid site in north-central Chile.
D. Key words: annual plants; arid ecosystem; climate; competition; herbivory; perennials; seed bank; shrub cover.
Class II. Research origin descriptors
A. Overall project description
Identity:Transect-based survey data of plant cover and seed bank density on 16 experimental plots at a semi-arid research site in north-central Chile.
Originators: See main metadata file metadata.php.
Period of Study: 1989–2005, ongoing.
Objectives:To monitor the community- and population-level dynamics of plants in a semiarid region and assess the cascading effects of biotic as well as abiotic influences.
Sources of funding: See main metadata file metadata.php.
B. Specific subproject description
1. Site description: See main metadata file metadata.php.
2. Experimental/Sampling design: See main metadata file metadata.php.
Treatments: See main metadata file metadata.php., Table 1, for details on treatment assignments for each plot.
Data Collection Period, Frequency: Perennial shrub cover is measured every three months (March, July, November). Ephemeral plant (annuals + geophytes) cover is measured monthly in the growing season (April/August to October/December); cover typically peaks in September, and all publications have used September values, so here we present only September cover data. Soil samples are collected every four months (April, August, December).
3. Research Methods
Field:On each plot within the Central Grid Complex (e.g., excluding +F treatments) we established four permanent 75-m long transects oriented E-W and separated by 15 m. Vegetation (both perennial and ephemeral) is measured using the point-intercept method along these transects. At 3-month intervals (March, July, November) we measure perennial cover at 0.5 m intervals along the entire transect (75 points × 4 transects = 300 points per plot). Ephemeral (annual + geophyte) cover is measured monthly during the growing season (April/August to October/December) on 10 randomly selected 1.5 m segments from these transects. Segments are sampled at 5 cm intervals (30 points × 10 segments × 4 transects = 1200 points per plot).
We characterized the soil seed bank by collecting 10 soil samples, 3 cm dia × 5 cm depth (35.35 cm3), from beneath the canopy of permanently marked shrubs in each plot, and 10 identical samples from open areas >1 m from shrub cover. From 1989 through 2002 we combined all 20 samples in a single measurement for each grid during each sampling period. Beginning 2003 we tallied seed samples separately for the 10 samples collected under shrub canopy and the 10 samples collected from open microhabitats.
Beginning 2003 we supplemented the above sampling of soil seed bank with additional samples (dimensions as above) to characterize the seed bank under each of three principal shrub species (Adesmia bedwellii, Porlieria chilensis, and Proustia pungens) as well as open habitat at least 1 m from shrub cover. We targeted these samples at only control (+D+P) and all small mammal exclusions (-SM, previously -D-P) grids. We sampled the same shrubs in each replicate collection.
As noted above, seeds are sampled in April, August, and December. April samples contain the seeds present in the soil after seed set but before germination of annuals. August samples contain the seeds remaining after germination of annuals. December samples contain the seeds 1–2 months after seed set of annuals. Seeds are separated in the lab by sieving and/or flotation, then oven-dried and identified to species under a stereoscopic microscope (NIKON SMZ-10) using a reference collection of seeds collected from plants in the field.
Taxonomy and systematics:Based primarily on Marticorena and Quezada (1985) and Marticorena et al. (2001), with minor updates (see Table 6).
4. Project personnel:Several people have been involved in plant data collection. Listed chronologically, they are: Elier Tabilo, Miguel Angel Torrealba, Sergio Herrera, Gina Arancio, Hernán Vásquez, Sergio Silva, Patricia Vidiella, Alvaro Levicán, Alex Cea, and Leticia Sánchez.
Class III. DATA SET STATUS AND ACCESSIBILITY
A. Status
Latest Update: 2005.
Latest Archive date: 2005.
Metadata status: The metadata are complete and up to date.
Data verification:Plant identifications are verified in the field by checking a reference collection of plants from the site. Unknown species are collected for later identification. Data entered into the computer are checked to ensure reliable data entry. Gina Arancio (Curator, Universidad de La Serena Herbarium) has been particularly important in determination of plant species. Voucher specimens for many species have been deposited in the Universidad de La Serena Herbarium. Seed identifications are verified in the lab by checking a reference collection of seeds from the site.
B. Accessibility
Storage location and medium:(Ecological Society of America data archives [Ecological Archives], URL published in each issue of its journals). Original data files and original datasheets reside with J. R. Gutiérrez.
Contact person:Julio R. Gutiérrez, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena Chile. E-mail: jgutierr@userena.cl.
Copyright restrictions: None.
Proprietary restrictions: We impose no proprietary restrictions on these data, but we do request that authors pursuing efforts with these data communicate with us in advance to prevent redundant efforts. Additionally, we request that authors of publications using these data notify Julio R. Gutiérrez (contact information above) of publication of their study. This helps us to document the scientific value and use of these data and will contribute to our annual reporting to the National Science Foundation.
Costs: None.
Class IV. DATA STRUCTURAL DESCRIPTORS
A. Data Set File:
Identity:
Fray_Jorge_Annuals_1989-2005.txt
Fray_Jorge_Perennials_1989-2005.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_1989-2002.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005I.txt
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005II.txt
Size:
File name
Number of rows (including header)
Number of kilobytes
Fray_Jorge_Annuals_1989-2005.txt
1073
124
Fray_Jorge_Perennials_1989-2005.txt
401
143
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_1989-2002.txt
705
64
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005I.txt
2433
121
Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005II.txt
5953
215
Format and storage mode: ASCII text, tab-delimited. No compression scheme used.
Header information: The first row of the file contains the variable names below.
Alphanumeric attributes: Mixed.
B. Variable information
Table 1. Column information for Fray_Jorge_Annuals_1989-2005.txt. Each row contains information on the percent cover of each species in a given grid during a particular year. Although similar data are collected monthly through the growing season, plant cover generally is greatest in September and all publications have used data for this month; consequently, we present only data for September.
Variable name
Variable definition
Storage type
Variable codes, definitions, and notes
Species
Four letter acronym unique for each species of plant at Fray Jorge.
Character
See Table 5 below for species codes, scientific names, growth form (annual, perennial), plant type (herb, shrub, geophyte), and orign (native vs. exotic).
Trt
Biotic treatment pertaining to this plot.
Character
+D-P = Plus Degu Minus Predator
-D-P = Minus Degu Minus Predator
+D+P = Plus Degu Plus Predator
-D+P/-SM = Minus Degu Plus Predator, converted to –SM (Minus all Small Mammals) in 2000Grid
Grid number
Integer
1-16 (e.g., Central Grid Complex only)
1989-2005
Ground cover of a given species in a plot in the year indicated.
Integer
Range 0-100%
Table 2. Column information for Fray_Jorge_Perennials_1989-2005.txt. Each row contains information on the percent cover of each species in a given grid during a particular year (in September).
Variable name
Variable definition
Storage type
Variable codes, definitions, and notes
Species
Four letter acronym unique for each species of plant at Fray Jorge.
Character
See Table 5 below for species codes, scientific names, growth form (annual, perennial), plant type (herb, shrub, geophyte), and origin (native vs. exotic).
Trt
Biotic treatment pertaining to this plot.
Character
+D-P = Plus Degu Minus Predator
-D-P = Minus Degu Minus Predator
+D+P = Plus Degu Plus Predator
-D+P/-SM = Minus Degu Plus Predator, converted to –SM (Minus all Small Mammals) in 2000Grid
Grid number
Integer
1-16 (e.g., Central Grid Complex only)
Mar-89 – Dec-05
Ground cover of a given species in a plot in the year indicated.
Integer
Range 0–100%; ND = no data.
Table 3. Column information for Fray_Jorge_Seeds_1989-2002.txt.
Variable name
Variable definition
Storage type
Variable codes, definitions, and notes
Species
Four letter acronym unique for each species of plant at Fray Jorge.
Character
See Table 5 below for species codes, scientific names, growth form (annual, perennial), plant type (herb, shrub, geophyte), and origin (native vs. exotic).
Trt
Biotic treatment pertaining to this plot.
Character
+D-P = Plus Degu Minus Predator
-D-P = Minus Degu Minus Predator
+D+P = Plus Degu Plus Predator
-D+P/-SM = Minus Degu Plus Predator, converted to –SM (Minus all Small Mammals) in 2000Grid
Grid number
Integer
1-16 (e.g., Central Grid Complex only)
Apr-89 – Dec-02
Number of seeds recovered (summed across samples within a grid).
Integer
ND = no data (2000 and 2001) during years with limited funding.
Table 4. Column information for Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005I.txt.
Variable name
Variable definition
Storage type
Variable codes, definitions, and notes
Species
Four letter acronym unique for each species of plant at Fray Jorge.
Character
See Table 5 below for species codes, scientific names, growth form (annual, perennial), plant type (herb, shrub, geophyte), and origin (native vs. exotic).
Trt
Biotic treatment pertaining to this plot.
Character
+D-P: Predator exclusion
-SM = Minus all Small Mammals (-D-P plots converted to –SM in 2000)Grid
Grid number
Integer
1-16 (e.g., Central Grid Complex only)
Position
Microhabiat of soil collection.
Character
b = bajo (beneath shrub cover)
e = entre (between shrubs; open microhabitat)Apr-xx, Aug-xx, Dec-xx (where xx = “03”, “04”, or “05)
Number of seeds recovered (summed across samples within a grid).
Integer
Table 5. Column information for Fray_Jorge_Seeds_2003-2005II.txt.
Variable name
Variable definition
Storage type
Variable codes, definitions, and notes
Species
Four letter acronym unique for each species of plant at Fray Jorge.
Character
See Table 5 below for species codes, scientific names, growth form (annual, perennial), plant type (herb, shrub, geophyte), and origin (native vs. exotic).
Trt
Biotic treatment pertaining to this plot.
Character
+D-P: Predator exclusion
-SM = Minus all Small Mammals (-D-P plots converted to –SM in 2000)Grid
Grid number
Integer
3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15
Shrub
Microhabitat of soil collection, including 3 replicates for each of 4 microhabitats in each grid.
Character
Adbe1, Adbe2, Adbe3 = Adesmia bedwellii #1, 2, 3;
Open1, Open2, Open3 = Open (between shrubs) #1, 2, 3;
Poch1, Poch2, Poch3 = Porlieria chilensis #1, 2, 3;
Prcu1, Prcu2, Prcu3 = Proustia cuneifolia #1, 2, 3.Apr-xx, Aug-xx, Dec-xx (where xx = “03”, “04”, or “05)
Number of seeds recovered (summed across samples within a grid).
Integer
Table 6. Plant species codes, scientific names, type, and origin (N: native, 78 species, E: exotic, 15 species).
Acronym
Species
Ann/Peren
Plant Type
Origin
ADBE
Adesmia bedwellii
Perennial
Shrub
N
ADFI
Adesmia filifolia
Annual
Shrub
N
ADTE
Adesmia tenella
Annual
Herb
N
ALDI
Alstroemeria diluta
Annual
Geophyte
N
ALMA
Alstroemeria magnifica ssp. magenta
Annual
Geophyte
N
AMCA
Amsinckia calycina
Annual
Herb
N
ANLI
Anisomeria littoralis
Perennial
Shrub
N
ASGE
Astephanus geminiflorus
Perennial
Shrub
N
BAAM
Bahia ambrosioides
Perennial
Shrub
N
BAPA
Baccharis paniculata
Perennial
Shrub
N
BOIN
Bowlesia incana
Annual
Herb
N
BOTR
Bowlesia tropaeolifolia
Annual
Herb
N
BRBE
Bromus berteroanus
Annual
Grass
N
BRIN
Bridgesia incisifolia
Perennial
Herb
N
CADE
Camissonia dentata
Annual
Herb
N
CARA
Cardionema ramosissimum
Perennial
Herb
N
CASP
Calandrinia sp.
Annual
Shrub
N
CHLI
Chaetanthera linearis
Annual
Shrub
N
CHPE
Chenopodium petiolare
Perennial
Shrub
N
CILA
Ciclospermum laciniatum (=Apium laciniatum)
Annual
Herb
N
CIST
Cistanthe arenaria
Annual
Herb
N
CLTE
Clarkia tenella
Annual
Herb
N
COCA
Conanthera campanulata
Perennial
Geophyte
N
CRCL
Crassula closiana
Annual
Herb
N
CRGR
Cristaria (prev. Malvastrum) gracilis
Annual
Herb
N
CRAS
Cristaria aspera
Annual
Herb
N
CRGL
Cryptantha glomerata
Annual
Herb
N
CRSP
Cryptantha sp.
Annual
Herb
N
CUMI
Cuscuta micrantha
Annual
Herb
N
DECU
Descurainia cumingiana
Annual
Herb
N
DIHU
Dioscorea humifusa
Perennial
Herb
N
ECCH
Echinopsis chilensis
Perennial
Cactus
N
ENCA
Encelia canescens
Perennial
Shrub
N
ERLU
Erigeron luxurians
Perennial
Shrub
N
ERBO
Erodium botrys
Annual
Herb
E
ERCI
Erodium cicutarium
Annual
Herb
E
ERMA
Erodium malacoides
Annual
Herb
E
ERMO
Erodium moschatum
Annual
Herb
E
ERCO
Eryngium coquimbanum
Annual
Herb
N
EUSA
Eupatorium salvia
Perennial
Shrub
N
FARE
Facelis retusa
Annual
Herb
N
FLTH
Flourensia thurifera
Perennial
Shrub
N
GAAP
Galium aparine
Annual
Herb
E
GAPH
Gastridium (prev. Koeleria) phleoides
Annual
Grass
N
GASP
Gamochaeta sp.
Annual
Herb
N
GURE
Gutierrezia resinosa
Perennial
Shrub
N
HACE
Haplopappus cerberoanus
Perennial
Shrub
N
HAHI
Haplopappus hirtellus
Perennial
Shrub
N
HEAR
Helenium aromaticum
Annual
Herb
N
HOMA
Homalocarpus dichotomus
Annual
Herb
N
HYSP
Hypochaeris sp.
Annual
Herb
N
LACH
Lastarriaea chilensis
Annual
Herb
N
LEPU
Leucocoryne purpurea
Annual
Geophyte
N
LESP
Leucheria sp.
Annual
Herb
N
LITE
Linaria texana
Annual
Herb
E
LOAS
Loasa tricolor
Annual
Herb
N
LYCH
Lycium chilense
Perennial
Shrub
N
MAHU
Malesherbia humilis
Annual
Herb
N
MANI
Malva nicaensis
Annual
Herb
E
MAPA
Malva parviflora
Annual
Herb
E
MELI
Menonvillea litoralis
Annual
Herb
N
MESP
Medicago sp.
Annual
Herb
E
MICO
Mirabilis cordifolia
Perennial
Herb
N
MIPI
Microseris pygmaea
Annual
Herb
N
MOPI
Moscharia pinnatifida
Annual
Herb
N
MOTR
Montiopsis trifida
Annual
Herb
N
NAPU
Nasella pubiflora
Perennial
Herb
N
NISP
Nicotiana sp.
Annual
Herb
N
OECO
Oenothera coquimbensis
Annual
Herb
E
OLJU
Olsynium junceum
Annual
Geophyte
N
OXMI
Oxalis micrantha
Annual
Herb
N
PACO
Pasithea coerulea
Perennial
Geophyte
N
PADE
Parietaria debilis
Annual
Herb
N
PEDI
Pectocarya dimorpha
Annual
Herb
N
PELI
Pectocarya linearis
Annual
Herb
N
PLHI
Plantago hispidula
Annual
Herb
N
POCH
Porlieria chilensis
Perennial
Shrub
N
PRCU
Proustia cuneifolia (=P. pungens)
Perennial
Shrub
N
RHPH
Rhodophiala phycelloides
Perennial
Geophyte
N
SCAR
Schismus arabicus
Annual
Grass
E
SCCO
Schizopetalon corymbosum
Annual
Herb
N
SCLI
Schizanthus litoralis
Annual
Geophyte
N
SECU
Senna cumingii
Perennial
Shrub
N
SESP
Senecio sp.
Perennial
Shrub
N
SIBA
Sicyos baderoa
Annual
Herb
N
SIGA
Silene gallica
Annual
Herb
E
SOOL
Sonchus oleraceus
Annual
Herb
E
STGR
Stachys grandidentata
Annual
Herb
N
STME
Stellaria media
Annual
Herb
E
STPL
Stipa plumosa
Perennial
Grass
N
STSP
Stipa speciosa
Perennial
Grass
N
TRPL
Trichopetalum plumosum
Annual
Herb
N
TWCO
Tweedia confertiflora
Perennial
Vine
N
URUR
Urtica urens
Annual
Herb
E
VABR
Valeriana bridgesii
Annual
Herb
N
VIPU
Viola pusilla
Annual
Herb
N
VUBR
Vulpia bromoides (=V. dertonensis)
Annual
Herb
E
UNID
Unidentified
--
--
--
SOIL
Bare soil
--
--
--
TCOB
Total Cover
--
--
--
Class V. Supplemental descriptors
A. Publications using the data set: See main metadata file metadata.php.
Literature cited
Marticorena, C., and M. Quezada M. 1985. Catálogo de la flora vascular de Chile. Gayana Botanica 42:1–157.
Marticorena, C., F. A. Squeo, G. A. Arancio, and M. Muñoz. 2001. Catálogo de la flora de la IV Región. Pages 105–142 in F. A. Squeo, G. A. Arancio, and J. R. Gutiérrez, editors. Libro rojo de la flora nativa y de los sitios prioritarios para su conservacion: Region de Coquimbo. Ediciones Universidad de La Serena, Santiago, Chile.